Storage device for volatile liquids



Sept.- 30, 1930.

H. HOWARD- s'romen DEVICE FOR VOLATILE LIQUIDS Original Filed Nov) 5, 1926 Breaffier I fake-L Amman/a S/ropinf Cola/Imp Sfomye 76 Glam-M it atented Sept. 3%, 93d

HENRY nowann, or .MIDDLE'IOWN, arronn ISLAND, .as sronoa', IBZ MESNE ASSIGN- MENTS, TO THE GBASSELLI CHEMICAL CQMEANY, F CLEVELAND, OHIO, A COR- PORA'1ION OF DELAWARE s'ronaen nnvrca roa VOLATILE rraurns Original application filed November 5, 1926, Serial No. 146,544. Divided and this application filed July 16, 1928.- Serial No. 293,082. l

This-invention relates to apparatus for storage and'delivery to the places used of volatile liquids such. as aqua ammonia, gaso- .line, benzol, etc.

This apphcation is a division of my cog pendin application Serial-No. 1416,54 1, filed Novem er 5, 1926.

According to the'presentinvention, the automatic compensation for variations in 1 pressure due to temperature changes and/or to the transfer of liquid to or'from the storage tank, is obtained by the use of a pair of ball check valves which are so associated with the storage tank that one or the other valve opens when the pressure'in the tank rises above or falls below thelnormal pres sure.

One embodiment of the invention, asapplied to a plant for oxidizing ammonia, is

' illustrated in the accompanying drawings,

in which Fig. 1 is a certain elements of the ammonia treating plant, v

Fig. 2 is a vertical section through one of the ball check valves.

In the drawings, the numeral 1 indicates a storage tank from which aqueous ammonia may be pumped tothe supply tank 2 by suitable system of conduits and pumps, not

shown. From the supply tank 2, the liquid passes to the ammonia stripping column 3 through pipe 4 and valve 5.

I lfhe supply tank 2 is provided with a dome as or upward extenslon 6 which is connected to the upperportionof storage tank 1 by the breather pipe 7.

The elements of the ammonia oxidizing.

plant, as so far described, are or may be of any conventional construction.

' In accordance with the present invention, the upper portion of the storage tank 1 is connected'to a vent space by valved conduits which p'rovidean absolute seal'for volatile gases evolved from the stored liquid so long as the pressure within the tank remains ap- .proximately normal, and which permit the flow of gases to or from the tank as the pres sure within the same tends to rise above or fall below its normal value.

diagrammatic illustration of.

- into the storage tank.

let side of. valve 10 is connected to the'stripping column 3 and the outletside of valve 9 by pipes 13, 14, respectively. p 1 Each check valve takes the, form of a chamber 15 having an inlet port- 16. in its lower'wall and an outlet port 17 in a side wall. A ball valve 18, which may be ,of earthen ware, normally rests upon a valveseat 19, which also may be of earthenware, as illustrated in Fig. 2, and fixed to the bottom'of the chamber 15 by cement 20,01 the like. The chamber 15 is provided with a suitable top closure, such, for example, on cover plate 21.

If the pressure'within the storage tank-1. rises above its normal or desired value, the valve 9 is raised from its seat and the pressure is relieved, the vapors passing through breather pipe 7, pipe 11, valve 9, andifpipes 1 1, 13, to the stripping column.- If, on'the other hand, the storage tank is cooled, there by developing a subnormal pressure inv the breather pipe 7 the valve lQopens under k the pressure existing in stripping column 3, and vapors pass from colum1r3-through pipe 13, valve 9, pipes 12, 11 and breather pipe 7,

My invention, therefore, automatically as maintains the pressure to which storage tank 1 is subjected within certain predetermined limits. By properly proportioning the weights of the ball valves, the conditions of pressure or partial vacuum in the vapor space (if the tank can be so controlled that evaporatibn is lessened or increased until a danger oint is reached, one of the valves then openmg to e'fiect automatic relief. I

The valves and the venting or relief conduit are, of course, constructedof material which will not be attacked by the stored liquid or by gases evolved therefrom. I have found that earthenware balls are satisfactory for use in the handling of stored aqueous amasthe bolted 70 monia, but it will be understood that other materials may be employed with aqueous ammonia and with other liquids.

It is to be noted that the ball type of check valve is particularly desirable, since the rolling movement of the valve on its seat as it opens and closes will keep the valve seat clean. a

.It is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the particular apparatus which is illustrated, and described herein, as many changes which may be made in the construction and arrangement of the oppositely arranged check valves fall within the spirit of my invention as set forth in the following claims. v

i I claim: 4 v

1. Apparatus for the handling of volatile liquids comprising a storage tank, a chamber, a Working conduit connecting saidtank and said chamber, a by-pass conduit connecting said tank and said chamber and a pair of checkvalves oppositely disposed in said second-named conduit.

2. Apparatus for the handling of volatile liquids comprising a stora e tank, a supply tank and a chamber for utilizing said liquids, conduits serially connecting said tanks and chamber, a second conduit connected between said storage tank and. said chamber and a pair of check valves oppositely disposed in I said conduit, the outlet of each valve being connected to the inlet side of the other of said valves.

3. In apparatus for handling volatile liquids, a storage tank, a chamber for utilizing said liquids, a breather conduit connecting said, tank and said chamber, a plurality of check valveseach including a chamber having an inlet and an outlet, 9. seat of ceramic material. and a ball of similar material, a

conduit leading from said breather conduit to the inlet side of one of said valves, a conduit leading from'said chamber to the inlet side of another of said valves and conduitsconnecting the outlet of each of said valves with the inlet of the other of said valves.

uids, a storage tank, a chamber for utilizing said liquids, means for connecting said tank and said chamber,

normally low pressure in said tank,

and means operative upon the existence of an abnormally high or 'abfor pro-i viding communication between said tank and 4. In apparatus'for handling volatileliqsaid chamber in parallel to said'connecting a means. V i

In testimony whereof,'I affix my signature.

HEN RY HOWARD. 

